Rack for tickets and the like

ABSTRACT

A basic component, i.e. modular section, capable of a variety of applications to form racks to receive cards and like thin, flat articles in a systematic manner is disclosed. The component is preferably cut to required lengths from extruded plastic composition. In its principal aspect the basic component is multiplied by interengagement of tongue and groove joints.

[451 July 22, 1975 United States Patent [1 1 Presberg 3.581.932 6/1971Kreeger et a1. 211/126 3,612,292 10/1971 Nervig 211/55 FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 1 1 RACK FOR TICKETS AND THE LIKE inventor: Charles D.Presberg, 400 N.

Michigan Ave. Deerfield, 111. 6061 1 Oct. 15, 1973 Appl. No.: 406,299

n U 49 43 99 H 30 [22] Filed:

variety of applications to form racks to receive cards and like thin,flat articles in a systematic manner is References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS disclosed. The component is preferably cut to required lengthsfrom extruded plastic composition. In

its principal aspect the basic component is multiplied byinterengagement of tongue and groove joints.

3 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures 5 85 BN 3 5 O2 4 v 2 1,954,242 Heppenstall2,532,600 Broersmzi.l.........

2,71047? 6/1955 Kress et 2,879,899 3/1959 Shenkin PATENTED JUL 2 2 197$SHEET Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q PATENTED JUL 2 2 I975 FIG, 9

RACK FOR TICKETS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Presently,racks for receiving cards such as employee time cards, certainmerchandise such as greeting cards and similar uses are custom made bycutting and forming sheet metal to form pockets for the articles,thereby necessitating the fabrication of special tools for blanking andforming, as well as joining sections into an assembly and fasteningthese thus-fabricated units into a frame or other form of mounting. As aresult the user's choice is somewhat limited and the cost is oftendisproportionate when considered in relation to the convenience gained.Consequently there has been a demand for a rack of the kind referred towhich is capable of being manufactured in an infinite variety of shapesand sizes by employment of easily assembled modular components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention, in one aspect, comprehends theprovision of extruded stock of some convenient commercial length cutinto sections suited to the width of the rack under consideration.Regarded in cross section the extruded stock has a spine or rear panel,and wings projecting unilaterally or bilaterally therefrom at some acuteangle. Between them the spine and wings define pockets of essentiallytriangular cross section to receive the articles to be supported, e.g.greeting cards. The spine has an abutment surface at the top and bottomedges and also has a groove in either the top or bottom abutment surfaceand a tongue in the companion surface so that, by assembling the modularsections in edge-to-edge relation, the pockets may be provided over somedesired extent of storage area. The tongue of the tongue-and-groovejoint may be rendered transversely resilient in order that adjacentsections may be interengaged readily and thereafter held in rigid relation. In the bilateral embodiment the wings extend from both faces ofthe spine to provide a rack accessible from both sides.

In another aspect the invention includes a novel adjunct which will holda card identifying the contents of a particular portion of the rack andwhich includes a divider for the otherwise continuous pockets tosegregate articles of different kinds.

The modular section referred to above may be provided with one or morewings and, if desired for special purposes, these may be staggeredvertically. Preferably the margin of a section will be such in relationto the wings that the joints between sections will lie midway betweentwo adjacent wings. In the event a finished edge, rather than one havinga tongue or a groove is desired, that much of the section carrying thetongue or groove may be sheared off.

In most cases the assemblage of sections will be finished marginally bya frame, as is common in this art. However, the present specificationdoes include frames especially adapted to support the modular sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a combined cross section andside elevation of a rack structure embodying the modular sections of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but including a bilateral arrangementof pockets;

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective of an as sembly similar toFIG. 2, installed in a frame;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of one form of thetongue-and-groove joint;

FIG. 5 is a similar detail of a modified form of FIG. 4'.

FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of a typical rack assem-' bly utilizingunits such as those of FIG. 3;

FIGv 7 is a perspective view of a combined separator and label holderconstituting one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross section illustrating a modified form of the device ofFIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 to 14 inclusive are perspective views illustrating variousassemblies in which the invention sections may be embodied;

FIG. 15 illustrates, in perspective, a combined outer frame member toreceive the modular sections; and

FIG. 16 shows a double-sided frame member to receive the bilateral typeof modular section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the drawings,FIG. 1 shows an assembly of three of the modular sections 10a, 10b and10(- in interlocked relation. together with a finishing cap 11. Each ofthe sections, as pointed out above, is capable of use in multiple, andis an extrusion, preferably of a tough plastic composition such as astyrene. Desirably, the extrusion is made in continuous stock lengthsand includes a spine or back panel 12 and a wing 14 extending therefromat an acute angle. At the junction of the members 12 and 14 a fillet 16is desirably provided for reinforcement. The angular relation betweenthe members 12 and 14 defines a V-shaped space S to receive time cardsand similar articles (not shown). Obviously, the arrangement is suchthat a portion of the card will protrude at the entrance to the space Sto facilitate access. To preclude stress cracks and to improve thefinish the distal edge of the wing 14 is formed as a bead 18.

The adjacent sections are arranged to be interlocked by means of aslide-in joint, e.g. a tongue-and-groove joint of the type exemplifiedby FIGS. 1, 2, 4 or 5. In FIG. 1 the tongue 21 has a neck and circularcross section congruent with a matching groove 22. Thus, two adjacentsections may be positioned end to end and slid into engagement. In orderto facilitate such engagement and to insure against looseness, it ispreferred to provide the tongue with a longitudinally continuous slot,such as 24 (FIGS. 4 and 5) whereby the portions of the tongue flankingthe slot may flex within accept able limits. Thus, the tongue may beinitially fabricated for a snug, permanent fit in its groove but so asto be capable of compression during sliding engagement of the parts. Inany case the cross section of the tongue and groove will comprise a headand neck as typified in the several figures.

As heretofore mentioned the modular sections 10a, 10b, 10c may bebilateral as in FIG. 2. Details of construction will be evident from thepreceding description. However, in this figure the distal edge isprovided with a continuous channel member 31 having grooves 33 toreceive a card bearing lettering to identify the na ture of the contentsof the rack. This same feature may. obviously, be used in the unilateralembodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical assembly 40 comprising a plurality ofbilateral. modular sections of the kind described in connection withFIG. 2. In this example, the assembly 40 is received in a simple channelframe 42, mitered and joined at the corners in any well known waywhereby to provide a very simple structure which may be of any selectedwidth and height. It will be evident that the modular sections may bestocked in selected unit lengths, say from l foot and up, in 1 footincrements, thereby saving considerable expense for labor involved inmaking special sizes. Similar considerations apply to the memberscomprising the frame 42. It will be apparent that the bilateral sectionsof FIG. 3 may be unilateral in those cases where only one face of therack will be utilized.

An assembly such as that shown in FIG. 3 may be employed in variousways. For example, FIG. 6 shows three of such assemblies A affixed to acentral post 70 rotatably supported on a base for straightforward accessto both faces of the several racks without the operator having to changehis position.

FIGS. 9 to 14 inclusive illustrate various other embodiments of themodular sections assembled with frames.

In FIG. 9 a special frame member 46 is provided with a pair of interiorribs 47 adapted to fit over the spine or back panel to rigidify theassembly. This feature is particularly useful in cases where the widthis such as to allow springing of the rack assembly unless additionalwidthwise stiffness is provided.

FIG. 10 shows an arrangement including a rack embodying the inventionarranged to clamp on a counter or similar surface. In this case thebottom edge of the rack has a channel member 48 to fit over the counterand a pair of thumb screws to secure the same.

In view of what has preceded the modifications of FIGS. 11, 12 and 14are not deemed to require detailed description.

FIG. 13 shows a free-standing, fan-folded arrangement of racks whichcomprise either unilateral or bilateral sections hinged along theadjacent spines by suitable hinges (not shown). It will be understoodthat the leaves of the hinges will protrude sufficiently far from thehinge pin to preclude binding when the rack is folded to a flatcondition.

FIG. 15 shows a modified form wherein the side frame member or members51 have a groove 53 to receive the spine 12a and an adjacent recess 55to receive an end portion of each of the Wings 14, these latter beingcoped to be received in the recess 55. A dovetail recess 57longitudinally of the member 51 receives a card or cards bearingidentification data.

.FIG. 16 shows another type of channel frame member 55 in which one orboth of the flanges 5656 is provided with a longitudinal dovetail recess57 to receive a card bearing indicia. It will be clear that the member55 may be used either vertically or horizontally.

FIG. 7 is a detail in perspective of a combined label holder and dividerhaving a slot 59 to clip over the free edge of a wing 14. The front hasa dovetail slot 60 to receive a label and the rear has either one or twocars 58 extending rcarwardly to divide the space S into individualpockets. FIG. 8 shows an adjunct similar to that of FIG. 7 but adaptedto fabrication in sheet metal. the slot 60a and ear 58a having the samefunctions as the corresponding elements 60 and 58 of FIG. 7. The slot 59finds its equivalent in the U-shaped member 6] of FIG. 8.

Although. by way of example, the foregoing description has referred tothe storage of articles of paper. cardboard and the like, it will beunderstood that the invention rack is readily capable of variation infrontto-back dimensions to accommodate -slim packages. such as magnetictapes in cassette form. phonograph records and the like.

In addition to the several advantages previously pointed out, it will beunderstood that the pocket dimensions which are defined by the racksections and dividers are capable of wide variation. Furthermore, itwill be seen that one or several racks are selfsupporting and may beemployed without a peripheral framework. If desired, the extrusion maybe provided with a slot to receive a decorative strip.

I claim:

1. A modular one piece, rack section adapted to be assembled in multipleto provide a plurality of racks to receive cards and like articlescomprising a spine, at least one thin, flat wing outstanding from saidspine at an acute angle therewith defining a pocket to receive thearticles, adjacent sections having respective male and female members ofelongated tongue and groove means, said means being adapted forend-to-end assem bly only by relative translational movement in thedirection of the ends, at least a portion of the length of one of saidmeans having an enlarged transverse cross section congruent with acorresponding cross section of the other of said means to precludedisconnection by force applied transversely of the assembly.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said meanscomprises a tongue and groove joint, the transverse cross section of thetongue and groove, when assembled, having a head portion and a neckportion, the neck portion being narrower than the head portion topreclude transverse separation of the interengaged sections.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein the sectioncomprises resilient but generally shape-retaining material, the tongueis provided with a slot longitudinally thereof to subdivide the tongueinto two independent halves adapted for a snug, slide-in fit

1. A modular one piece, rack section adapted to be assembled in multipleto provide a plurality of racks to receive cards and like articlescomprising a spine, at least one thin, flat wing outstanding from saidspine at an acute angle therewith defining a pocket to receive thearticles, adjacent sections having respecTive male and female members ofelongated tongue and groove means, said means being adapted forend-to-end assembly only by relative translational movement in thedirection of the ends, at least a portion of the length of one of saidmeans having an enlarged transverse cross section congruent with acorresponding cross section of the other of said means to precludedisconnection by force applied transversely of the assembly.
 2. Thecombination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means comprises atongue and groove joint, the transverse cross section of the tongue andgroove, when assembled, having a head portion and a neck portion, theneck portion being narrower than the head portion to preclude transverseseparation of the interengaged sections.
 3. The combination inaccordance with claim 2 wherein the section comprises resilient butgenerally shape-retaining material, the tongue is provided with a slotlongitudinally thereof to subdivide the tongue into two independenthalves adapted for a snug, slide-in fit with the groove.